History: Expansion, Peak of Songhai Empire in Africa

In about A.D. 1465 Sunni Ali became the emperor of the Songhai Empire. A brilliant and brave General, he recorded outstanding military achievements which consequently increased the power and prestige of the Songhai Empire. He conquered Timbuktu in 1468, Jenne in 1473, and inflicted a serious defeat on the Mossi at Jiniki To’oi in 1483.

Sunni Ali died by drowning in 1492 and he was succeeded by his son, Sunni Baro (Abubakar Dao). Though his father was a moderate Muslim who even prosecuted and executed the ulama of Songhai, Sunni Baro solely towed the pagan line. This provided an excuse for his father’s Chief of Staff, Askia Muhammed to depose him in a palace coup.

Askia Muhammed made himself emperor and continued the great territorial expansions already begun by his predecessor. In 1498 his armies wrecked havoc on the Mossi of Yatenga although the Mossi states managed to keep their independence.

In 1499 Songhai armies conquered Bagana. They later conquered Diara in 1502, Galam in the Tekrur area in 1507, and Borgu in 1505 although the impossible terrain of the area later made them lose it.

In 1513 Askia Muhammed’s forces began the systematic conquest of Gobir, Katsina, Zaria, and eventually Kano. Shortly after they conquered the troublesome Tuaregs of Aïr and occupied Agadez, their commercial capital in alliance with the armies of the Kanta of Kebbi. Songhai later lost her Hausa colonies to Kebbi after the latter rebelled in 1516.